PHOTOS: Emmy Awards Show Highlights

Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston won the Emmy for Lead Actor In a Drama for “Breaking Bad”

“I don’t know why I was blessed with so much good fortune… As a kid I was a schemer. I was a kid who always looked for the short cut. My own family named me Sneaky Pete,” Cranston said. “I would like to dedicate this award to all the Sneaky Petes of the world.”

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Modern Family

Steven Levitan accepted the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series won by “Modern Family.”

“It’s a wonder that we get to do this for a living….’Modern Family’ has been an extrodinary dream for the last 5 years and we thank you for not waking us up.”

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Julianna Margulies

Julianna Margulies won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series for her role on “The Good Wife.”

“What a wonderful time for women in television. All the women nominated tonight are a testament to that,” Margulies said.

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Aaron Paul

Aaron Paul won the Emmy for Supporting Actor In a Drama for his work on “Breaking Bad.”

“My god, ‘Breaking Bad.’ It has changed my life and I am standing up here because of one man, Vince Gilligan.”

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Breaking Bad

“Breaking Bad” won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

Vince Gilligan accepted the award and told the audience, “Thank you so much for this fabulous farewell to our show.”

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Anna Gunn Emmy Win

Anna Gun won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series for the second year in a row for her role on “Breaking Bad.”

‘It has been the most extraordinary ride over the last seven years,” Gunn told the audience.

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Seth Meyers

Seth Meyers’ opening monologue was subdued but appropriate. Variety TV critic Brian Lowry said of his hosting: “No dance number, no taped montage, no problem. Seth Meyers went for a minimalist approach in opening the 66th annual Emmy Awards, which is to say, a straight monologue, filled with jokes designed for people in the room and those who love TV.”

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Ryan Murphy The Normal Heart Emmy Win

Ryan Murphy accepted the Emmy for “The Normal Heart” which won the Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie

Murphy urged the audience to “become Larry Kramers. Find a cause that you can fight for and die for.” Murphy ended his speech by dedicating the award to all the artists who have died from HIV/AIDS since 1981.

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus

“Veep’s” Julia Louis-Dreyfus won the Emmy for best actress in a comedy. “I’d like to thank HBO. I’ve worked a lot of places in this town and it is absolutely my favorite place to work.”

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Kiss of Gold

Bryan Cranston gave Julia Louis-Dreyfus a passionate kiss as she walked on stage to accept her Emmy. Louis-Dreyfus gave Cranston some good-natured ribbing for a bit part he had on “Seinfeld.”

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Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons took home the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Comedy for his work on “The Big Bang Theory.” “There is no accounting for taste and through a lot of good fortune I stand up here tonight.”

Allison Janney

Allison Janney won for Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her work on “Mom” and said of co-star Anna Faris: “She is the sister I never had and the daughter I never had.”

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Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman won the Emmy for Writing for a Variety Special for “We Are Miracles.”

“We all all just molecules and we are hurtling through space right now,” Silverman told the audience as she left the stage.

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Robin Williams

Billy Crystal gave a touching tribute to Robin Williams after the in memoriam portion of the show.

“It’s so hard to talk about him in the past because he was such a presence in all of our lives,” Crystal said. “For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in our comedy galaxy. The brilliance was astounding, the relentless energy was thrilling.”

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Louis C.K.

Louis C.K. won for Writing for a Comedy Series for FX’s “Louie” and thanked Conan O’Brien for giving him his first job on television.

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Ty Burrell

A visibly surprised Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”) won for Supporting Actor in a Comedy.

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Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert accepted the award for Variety Series for “The Colbert Report.” “Our writers won last week for writing a variety show and I am so proud of those guys and one woman,” Colbert said.

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Jessica Lange

Jessica Lange won the Emmy for Lead Actress in a miniseries/movie for “American Horror Story.”

“I’m profoundly surprised for this,” she said. “The cast is a dream come true from beginning to end.”

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Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al performed a meandering comedy tribute to television theme songs.

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Cary Joji Fukunaga

Director Cary Joji Fukunaga took home “True Detective’s” only award on the night for Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series for “True Detective” episode “Who Goes There.”

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Kathy Bates

“American Horror Story: Coven’s” Kathy Bates won the Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Miniseries/Movie.
“I have to thank everybody who had anything to do with this show. Last season was awesome and this season is going to be so great.”

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“Fargo’s” Colin Bucksey

Colin Bucksey accepted the award for Directing for a Miniseries/Movie/Special for the “Fargo” episode “Buridan’s Ass.”

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Moira Walley-Beckett

Moira Walley-Beckett won the Emmy for Writing for a Drama for the “Ozymandias” episode of “Breaking Bad.”

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Gail Mancuso

Gail Mancuso took home the Emmy for Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series for her work on the “Vegas” episode of “Modern Family”

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Steven Moffat

Steven Moffat accepted the Emmy for Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special for PBS’ “Sherlock: His Last Vow”